Wrapping machine



y 5, 1939. c. 'M. EBE-RUNG 2,166,946

WRAFPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 1 mm an E5 M- EBERLINE' INVENTVOR ATTORNEY July 25, 1939.

c. M. EBERLING WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2mama s M EBERL/NE.

I NVENTOR BY a A I ATTORNEY c. M. EBERLING ,9 6

WRAPPING MACHINE I July 25, 1939.

5 Sheets-Shee t 3 Filed Sept. 17, 1937 ('HflRLE-S M- EBERL/NG INVENTORATTORNEY y 25, 1939- c. M. EBERLING 2,166,946

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1937 j 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F'IG- 4INVENTOR BY WQLQ. I

ATTORNEY y 25, 1939. c. M. EBERL-ING 2,166,946

' WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1937 5 Shets-Sheerl 5 FIE-5 7.75.

INVENTOR [HHRLES H. BERLl/VE YXMI, L.

ATTORNEY Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRAPPINGMACHINE Charles M. Eberling, Cleveland, Ohio Application September 1'7,193?, Serial No. 164,300

12 Claims.

This invention relates in general to wrapping machines for merchandiseand more particularly to semiautomatic wrapping machines for wrappingmerchandise such as coal, paper etc., which 5 machines permit of holdinga cover when wrapped around the goods until the operator has securelyfastened the cover by gummed tape or similar means.

It is the general object of the present invention l to provide awrapping machine of the type re- .ferred to adapted to form a package bysuccessively folding a piece of material lengthwise around merchandise,tucking and creasing the ends of the tube formed by folding the cover in15 the manner described, and folding and creasing the bottom portion ofthe tucked ends of the cover so as to permit of the cover being securelyfastened by gummed tape applied to the top of the package, then carriedaround its tucked ends and 20 finally secured to the bottom face of thepackage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapping machine of thetype referred to embodying a vertically shiftable wrapping table, andmeans coupled with said table and actuated by shifting same forsuccessively wrapping cover material lengthwise around merchandise,tucking the ends of the thus formed tube, creasing the ends of the tubeat its bottom, folding same upwardly and holding the cover thus wrapped30 around merchandise until the operator has applied gummed tape to theseams and securely fastened the cover around the merchandise.

In addition, the invention has other marked improvements andsuperiorities which radically 35 distinguish it from presently knownstructures. These improvements or superior characteristics embodyingcertain novel features of construction are clearly set forth in theappended claims, and a preferred embodiment of the invention is here-410 inafter shown with reference to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a wrapping machine according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the left side of the wrapping machine shown inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 through 8 are diagrammatic views of the 50 wrapping machineshowing the position of the table and wrapping and tucking elementduring successive steps of a wrapping operation, thus Fig. 5 shows themachine when wrapping paper is placed on the wrapping table and the good55 to be wrapped are placed on t paper,

Fig. 6 shows the machine having the paper m git'udinally folded aroundthe goods by means of hinged folding members secured to opposite ends ofthe wrapping table.

Fig. 7 shows the machine having its tucking ,6 members inwardly shiftedso as to tuck in the ends of the tube formed by wrapping the paperaround the goods, and

Fig. 8 shows the machine having its bottom crease and folding members inraised position 10 after these members have formed a bottom crease andfolded upwardly the tucked ends of the tube referred to above.

Referring now in detail to the exemplified form of the wrapping machineshown in the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates a substantiallyrectangularly shaped frame structure embodying spaced front angle ironposts 3, 3' and spaced rear angle iron posts 4, 4'. The posts 3, 3support two inwardly faced channels 5 and 6 superposed in spacedrelation and connected to the flanges l, l of said posts by means ofshort bolts 8, and posts 4, 4' support two inwardly faced channels 9 andI0 similarly superposed to each other and connected to the flanges II,II of the posts 4, 4' by means of. short bolts l2. The channels 5 and 9and the channels 6 and I0 respectively are rigidly connected with eachother by pairs of upper and lower cross bars 14 and 15, the upper crossbars I4 being secured to the lower flanges l6, I6 of channels 5 and 9 bymeans of bolts [8, the lower cross bars 15 being secured to the lowerflanges ll, ll of channels 6 and I0 by means of bolts l9. Cross bars l4and I5 serve to guide a vertically shiftable, substantiallyrectangularly shaped wrapping table 20, the central area of which isreduced in width by cut out portions 21 for a purpose later to bedescribed. This wrapping table is mounted at its four corners onvertically slidable front and rear rods 22, 22', each of which is guidedin bores 23 of cross bars l4 and IS. The rods 22, 22' have their upperends threadedly engaged with the table 20 and carry and support twosymmetrically arranged, substantially U-shaped brackets 24, theoutwardly extended arms 25 of which are each provided with two spacedbores 26, 21, bore 25 being utilized to sleeve arm 25 upon therespective rods 22, 22', and bore 21 for guiding bottom folding members28, as will be later described. Brackets 24 are forced upwardly intoengagement with the bottom face of table 29 by means of nut members 29,threaded upon, the upper ends of. said rods and engaged with the lowerfaces of the arms 25, as can readily be seen from inspection of Fig. 3of the drawings.

There are two co-operating pairs of table supporting rods, eachembodying a front rod 22 and a rear rod 22, and these pairs are coupledwith corresponding short rectangular bars 32, 32', arranged parallel toand below the upper cross bars I4 to limit the upward movement of thebars 32, 32'. Bars 32, 32' are vertically perforated as at 33 and haveone front and rear rod 22, 22 respectively of each pair of thesupporting rods ex tended through the perforations 33 and, in addition,are pinned to said rods by means of pins 34. Short bars 32, 32' whichthus are coupled with table 28 and move jointly therewith are c'onnectedto an o-peratinglever 35, spaced links36 being used for this purpose.These links are hinged with their upper endstc a bolt 3'l'sleevedthrough central bores 38 in the oppositely arranged bars 32, 32' andheld in proper position by means of nut members 39, and thelinks arehinged with their lower ends to a bolt 48, extended through central.bores 4| in parallel arms 42 of the operating lever 35; which bolt isheld in place by'nut members 43. A plurality of tubular spacing-members44 and. 45 on bolts 31 and 40 respectively prevent lateral .movement oflinks 36 and insure proper working relation between all parts. l 7

Operating lever 35is pivotediat its rear end to the flanges 46 of ashort channel 41, which channel is securedv tolower rearchannel. 6 bymeans of bolts 48. Thus a bolt 49, having" nut members 56, is pivotallysecured to the flanges 46 of channel 41. The front end of lever 35 hasthe two parallel arms 42 bridged and interconnected by a U-shaped metalpiece, preferably welded to said arms, so as to form a foot pedal 35. Aplurality of inclined tension springs 5|, 52, connected to bolt 40 andthe upper flanges 53 of channels 5 and 9, yieldingly force lever 35upwardly so that bars 32, 32, rods 22, 22 and table 20 are yieldinglyforced upwardly and that bars 32,. 32 rest against cross bars M, whichcross bars thus stop further upward movement of said bars.

Folrcib-le downward movement of operating lever 35 by an operatoreffects downwardmovement of table 26', rods 22, 22' and short bars 32,32, which downward movement induces folding and tucking operations .offolding and tucking mechanism presently described. The folding mechanismis connected to table '29 and embodies two oppositely arranged foldingmembers 54, 54, pivotally secured to ears 55 integrally formed at thefour corners of table 20. These folding members each consist of. anangular base member 56, secured at its lower edge to a shaft 51, headscrews 58 being used for this purpose, which shaft 51 ispivotallymounted in the respective cars 55. The base member 56 hasadjustably secured thereto a front plate 59 and yieldingly securedthereto a forwardly extended top plate 66, which latter plate isyieldingly forced into engagement with the edge of front plate 59 andthe flange 6! of base member 56 by means of a spring 69 seated againstthe top of plate 66 and a headed screw 62 threadedly connected with theflange 6| of base member 56. Base member 56 carries centrally thereof atits rear wall a cam member'63 rigidly secured to said base member, whichcam member is provided with a cut out portion 84 for shaft 51. Thedescribed folding members 54, 54 co-operate with roller members 65, 65,which roller members are adjustably seated upon the upper flanges 53 ofthe respective upper channels 5 and 9 and rigidly secured thereto bybolts 61, extended through slots 68 in said roller members. The cammembers 63 are adjusted to effect slight advance movement of one of. thefolding members 54, 54' with respect to the other of said members, so asto insure during folding operation proper overlapping of the ends of thepaper wrapper.

When lever 35 is shifted table 20 moves downwardly, so that cam mebers63 engage rollers 69 on roller members 65, 65 and force the foldingmembers 54, 54' inwardly, thus folding paper, previously placed on table23, around the merchandise previously placed on thepaper. During thisoperation front plates 59 position the merchandise and top plates 69yieldingly draw the paper tightly around the mechandise and shape thepaper to a tube encircling the mechandise.

The thus formed tube is then tucked in at its opposite ends by means ofa tucking mechanism, which mechanism embodies two oppositely arrangedpairs of tucking members 36 arranged adjacent to the sides of table20,.each of the tucking members 66 consists of a rounded tucking shoe'lfland a. supporting rod H, having its upper end 72 rectangularly'offset and secured to the shoe by means of headed screws 73. Thesupporting rods H extend into bores 14 of shafts 15, T5 and are rigidlyheld in place by means of set screws 16; The shafts 15', T5 are arrangedparallel to each other and pivotally mounted in bores 11, ll,symmetrically arranged in short bars 32, 32, and carry at their exposedleft side rectangular cam members 18, 18,, secured to shafts 15, i5 bymeans. of screws 19, Cam members 18, 18, which arefsymmetricallyarranged with respect to each other, co-operate with roller members 80,which roller members are hingedly connected to the flanges ofvthe'angular posts 3 and 4 by means of bolts 81 and held in properlyadjusted position by adjustable, slottedisupporting brackets 82, whichbrackets are secured to said flanges by means of bolts 83. The describedhinged mountingof the roller members 80, 80, which mounting permits offree upward movement of the roller members and limits their downward;move-; ment, effects inward swinging of the tucking members 66, when thetable 29 and short bars 32, 32 are moved downwardly, so that cam members18, l8v engage rollers 84 of thero'ller members 80, 86f.v Inwardswinging of the tucking.v members 66 with shock-like action of thesemembers isv prevented by." a shock absorbing mechanism 85 mounted on andsupported by a bracket plate 36, which: plate is rigidlyattached to theshort bar 32 by means of headed screws 81. Thus bracket plate 86 mountsshort rod 88, the threaded lower end 89 of which is extended through abore 90 in said plate and rigidly secured thereto by means of nutmembers 9!, 9|. The upper portion 92 of rod 85 is angularly offset. andsupports in a bore 93 a horizontally arranged threaded. rod 94, extendedthrough bore .93'and rigidly secured to portion 92 by means of nuts 95.The free ends of rod 94 carry spring supporting members 96, each ofwhich members has sleeved thereon and secured thereto a compressionspring member 91.

Tucking members 66-are arranged to swingin their rest positions,when-table 20 andlbar 32 are 75 sufficiently lowered so as to effectrelease of cam members 18, 18 from the respective rollers 84 of rollermembers 80,

Tuckingmembers 66 are released to permit of a bottom fold and creasebeing made on the tucked ends of the wrapper. Such fold is made by thebottom folding members 28, arranged at opposite sides of table 20adjacent to the four corners thereof. These folding members each consistof a substantially rectangular block 98, the upper face 99 of which isaligned with the face of table 20. Each block 98 has rigidly securedthereto a downwardly extending rod I00 slidably confined in the bore 21of the respective U-shaped bracket 24 and corresponding bores in bracketplate 06 and a bracket WI. The U-shaped brackets 24 support the blocks98 and hold same in alignment with the table 20 during downward movementof said table until the lower ends I02 of rods I00, which rods areshorter than the table supporting rods 22, 22', contact with bracketsI03, I03, seated upon and rigidly secured to lower cross bars I5.Further downward movement of table 20 in the manner previously describedeffects rela tive movement of bottom folding members 28 with respect totable 20 as downward movement of the bottom folding members is arrested,and this relative movement of the bottom folding members with respect tothe table results in a bottom fold and crease at the four'corners of thewrapper, it being understood that the wrapper is rigidly held in wrappedcondition by top folding members 54, 54, and permit the operator to sealthe wrapper as will be later described.

The described wrapping machine preferably embodies adjustable paper stopmeans to effect proper positioning of the paper prior to wrappingoperations, which means consists of oblongly shaped sheet metal platesI04 adjustably secured to the sides of the blocks 98 at one side of thewrapping machine, machine screws I04 being used for such purpose. Inaddition, the wrapping machine is equipped with automatically removablemerchandise positioning means I05 adapted to effect proper location ofthe merchandise to be wrapped on the folder previously placed on table20. These merchandise positioning means embody an elongated plate I01held in upright position at the end of table 20 by means of two rodsI08, which rods are adjustably secured to a horizontally arrangedrotatable shaft I09. Shaft I09 is mounted in brackets IIO, secured tothe uprights 3 and 4 at the left side of the machine, headed screws I II being used for this purpose. A short lever shaft I I2 threadedlyconnected with the central portion of shaft I09 is utilized forautomatically shifting the merchandise positioning means out of reach ofthe tucking device, so as to prevent interference with proper wrappingoperations. This shaft II2 co-operates with a hook-shaped rod II3adjustably secured to the extended front end of bracket plate 86, whichrod engages with its hooked end II4 the lever arm H2 and, whenvertically shifted with bracket plate 86, effects rotation of shaft I09and therewith lifting of plate I01 on an are away from table 20. Asecond lever arm II5 close to one end'of shaft I09 effects stopping ofthe rotation of shaft I09, when said lever arm I I5 engages the sidewall or flange of post 4.

In operation, a piece of wrapping paper is laid on table 20 andmerchandise is placed on the paper, both paper and merchandise beingproperly positioned by use of the paper and the merchandise positioningmeans. The machine is now ready for wrapping operation, which operationis effected by forcing foot pedal 35 downwardly. The downward movementof the pedal effects a downward shifting of table 20, cross bars 32, 32,and blocks 98, and, as first step of the wrapping operation inwardmovement of folding members 54, 54 due to the rolling engagement oftheir cam members 63 with the rollers 69 of the roller members 65, 65'.In this folding operation folding member 54' is shifted slightly aheadof the other folding member, so as to effect proper overlapping of theends of the paper wrapped around the merchandise.

At the end of the folding operation or somewhat earlier rectangular cammembers 18, I8 engage with rollers 84 of roller members 80, 80 andeffect inward tilting of the tucking members 66 against the springs 91and therewith tucking in of the ends of the previously formed paper tubejust adjacent to the merchandise within same tube. Further downwardmovement of the foot pedal 35' causes release of the tucking members 66,which are forced back to their rest position by the action of thesprings, and then effects arresting of the downward movement of blocks98, when ends I02 of their supporting rods I00 engage the brackets I03,I03, It is of course to be understood, that table 20 and short bars32,32 continue their downward movement while blocks 98 are at astillstand and that this action effects relative movement between table20 and the blocks 98 and therewith folding and creasing action on thebottom corners of the tucked tube. At this time the foot pedal 35 isstopped and held in position so that the operator can readily apply astrip of gummed tape to the thus formed package and secure the paper inproper position around the merchandise while such paper is held properlywrapped around the merchandise. The gummed tape is first applied to thetop of the package, then carried around the sides thereof by glidingaction of the hands of the operators around the sides of the package andfinally stuck to the bottom of the package, a procedure permitted by thecentral cut out portion 2! in table 20, which cut out portions formslots permitting the fastening of the tape to the bottom of the packageby sliding the hands in said slots under the package. c

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a semi-automatic wrapping machine a stationary frame, a shiftableframe Vertically slidably mounted within said first frame, sup portingand wrapping mechanism carried by and secured to said shiftable frame,creasing and bottom folding members vertically slidably mounted in saidshiftable frame, means on said stationary frame for actuating saidsupporting and wrapping mechanism when said shiftable frame is moveddownwardly in said stationary frame, and means on said stationary framefor arresting vertical downward movement of said creasing and bottomfolding members when said shiftable frame is in predetermined positionand moved further downwardly.

2. In a semi-automatic wrapping machine a stationary frame, a shiftableframe, vertically slidably mounted within said first frame, supportingand wrapping mechanism including a substantially rectangular tablecarried by and rigidly secured to said shiftable frame, creasing andbottom folding means vertically slidably mounted in said shiftable frameand arranged adjacent to the'four corners of said table and means onsaid stationary frame for actuating said supporting and wrappingmechanism on said. shiftable frame when the latter'frame is shifteddownwardly, said means. including stopping means for stopping thedownwardmovement of said creasing and bottom folding means when saidshiftable frame is in predetermined position with respect to said firstframe.

3. In a semi-automatic wrapping machine a stationary frame, a shiftableframe, vertically slidably mounted in said stationary frame, tuckinglever meansincluding cam means pivotally supported on said shiftableframe, lever means on. said stationary frame co-operating with said cammeans of said tucking lever means for actuating the tucking means whensaid slidable frame moves downwardly, and means on said shiftable frameyieldingly counteracting the tucking operation. of said tucking levermeans, said lever means being pivotally connected to said, stationaryframe and including stopping means prohibiting downward movement of saidlever means and permitting free upward movement of said lever means forpreventing actuation of said tucking lever means when said shiftableframe moves upwardly.

4. In a semi-automatic wrapping machine a stationary frame, a secondframe, vertically shiftably supported in said stationary frame, foldingandtucking' mechanism pivotally supported by said shiftable frame,creasing and bottom folding mechanism vertically slidably supported onsaid shiftable frame, and means on said stationary frame for actuatingsaid folding and tucking mechanism in timed relation during eachdownward movement of said shiftable frame in said stationary frame andstopping further downward movement of said creasing and bottom foldingmechanism in a predetermined position of said shiftable frame when saidlatter frame is shifted further downwardly.

5. In a semi-automatic wrapping machine a stationary frame, a shiftableframe vertically slidably supported in said stationary frame, foldingand tucking means hingedly connected to said slidable frame, rollermeans attached to said stationary frame for actuating said folding andtucking means in timed relation when said slidable frame is movingdownwardly with respect to said stationary frame, creasing and bottomfolding means slidably mounted in said shiftable frame embodyingvertical slide rods, and means on said stationary frame co-operatingwith said slide rods in stopping downward movement of said creasing andbottom folding means when said shiftable frame is in predeterminedposition and then shifted further downwardly.

6. A semi-automatic wrapping machine as described in claim '7, whereinsaid wrapping table is provided with slots of substantial depth in itsopposite side walls, and wherein said table is supported at its fourcorners by said vertical slide rods.

7. In a semi-automatic wrapping machine a stationary frame, havingsuperposed perforated horizontally arranged connecting and guidingmembers, a slidable frame including a substantially rectangular wrappingtable and a tucking member supporting means rigidly connected to saidtable by elongated vertical rods slidably guided in said connecting andguiding members, spring means yieldingly suspending, said slidable framefrom said stationary frame and means pivotally connected with saidstationary frame and linked to said slidable frame for effectingvertical downward movement of said shiftable frame against the force ofsaid spring means.

8. A semi-automatic wrapping machine as described in claim '7, whereinsaid slidable frame mounts vertically slidable creasing and bottomfolding members arranged adjacent to the four corners of said table andwherein said stationary frame includes means adapted to stop downwardmovement of said creasing and bottom folding members when said membersare in a predetermined position with respect to said stationary frame.

9. In a semi-automatic wrapping machine a stationary frame, a slidableframe vertically shiftably mounted in said stationary frame, folding andtucking mechanism supported by said slidably mounted frame, meanshingedly connected to said stationary'frame for properly positioninggoods to be wrapped with respect to said folding and tucking mechanismand co-operating means on said stationary frame and slidable frameadapted to automatically swing said positioning means out of reach ofsaid folding and tucking mechanism when said slidable frame movesdownwardly.

10. A semi-automatic wrapping machine as described in claim 9, whereinsaid positioning means is supported on a horizontal shaft rotatablymounted at one side of the machine, and wherein means are provided onsaidslidable frame adapted to effect rotation of said shaft andtherewith shifting of said positioning means when said frame is shifteddownwardly 11. In a semi-automatic wrapping machine a stationary frame,a frame structure vertically shiftably supported by said stationaryframe, wrapping mechanism carried by said slidable frame structure, and.means on said stationary frame adapted to actuate the wrapping mechanismcarried by said slidable frame structure when said structure is shifteddownwardly, said frame structure including a supporting table arrangedat its upper end, and said wrapping mechwanism embodying foldingmechanism hingedto said table, tucking lever means mounted to swing invertical planes adjacent to the opposite sides of said table, andbottom'folding means arranged adjacent to the sides'of said table andslidably mounted on said frame structure forindependent verticalmovement.

12. A semi-automatic wrapping machine as de-' scribed in claim 11,wherein said vertically shiftable frame structure is yieldably held inpredetermined position, wherein said. bottom folding means are supportedin predetermined position with respect to said table of the framestructure, and wherein means are provided on said stationary frame forvertically shifting said bottom folding means by further downwardmovement of said frame structure when said structure has reached apredetermined position.

CHARLES M. EBERLING.

